Eger sparks No. 2 Century, 3-0

Two goals, assist raise profile vs. South Carroll

Girls soccer

High Schools

On a team featuring at least a handful of the top seniors in Carroll County, you can excuse opponents of the Century girls soccer team if Brittany Eger falls under their radar.

The sophomore spent most of last season on the JV after moving to the area from Laurel.

Last night, Eger introduced herself to rival South Carroll, assisting on a goal late in the first half and scoring two herself in the final 3:55 of play to help the host No. 2 Knights seal a 3-0 win.

"I think I caught them by surprise," said Eger who also scored a pair of goals last week against Francis Scott Key. "I wasn't on varsity last year and I just moved here a couple years ago, so they don't really know me."

Her efforts helped Century (8-1-1), the defending Class 2A state champion, win its seventh straight.

Early, however, South Carroll (3-4-1) played the role of aggressor, winning loose balls, firing two of the first three shots and even getting back-to-back corner kicks midway through the first half.

"They definitely came out very strong," said Century coach Vanessa Ozimek. "They gave us a very good challenge. They were getting to the balls and winning the balls. We really had to pull it together."

Near halftime, Century did just that.

Minutes after forward Lauren Schwarzmann nearly gave the Knights the lead on a soft roller toward an empty net that missed inches to the left, teammate Lindsay Lamont made it 1-0, taking a pass from Eger and popping it over the head of goalie Amanda Frushour with 5:56 left.

"We knew we had to pressure the ball, and a couple times I don't think we did," said South Carroll coach Jerry Janowich. "They're probably going to get 10 opportunities like that, and you hope they can squeeze the ball or squeeze the space on all 10, but they're going to miss one or two."

The Cavaliers battled in the second half, at one point taking aim with three straight corners, but couldn't cash in. Then, with the outcome still in doubt in the final minutes, Eger put the game away, first scoring off an assist from Schwarzmann with 3:55 left, then getting a second goal with under a minute to play.

Eger might have had a hat trick, but her soft shot toward an empty net rolled inches wide with a little over 13 minutes to play.

Ozimek called Eger a "versatile" player. Eger spends much of her time as a defensive halfback, but is also capable of contributing at the offensive end

"Tonight, we needed her up top a little bit more, and I think it opened up some opportunities for her," said Ozimek.